Foreign runners to spice up Subic Marathon

Runners from Kenya – a formidable power in marathon – and from the United Kingdom, and are among the 8,000 entries vying for over P1 million cash prizes at the 2008 Subic Marathon. The champion of the 42-kilometer run in the men's division gets $5,000 while the winner in women's division gets $2,000. "This is to show to the world that the Philippines can be a global marathon circuit," said Chief Superintendent Samson Tucay, head organizer and race director of the Subic Marathon International Organization Inc. (SMIOI), at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday. Appearing with Tucay in the weekly session at the Shakey's United Nations Avenue branch were Senior Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Philippine National Police (PNP) representative; Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac, project director and organizer; and Cha Contreras, president of the Runners Confederation of the Philippines (RUN-CPI). According to Tucay, the awesome topography of Subic serves as a perfect backdrop for the Philippines' first international marathon event for 2008. The race route passes by major landmarks in the former American base camp – such as the Subic International Airport, the Subic Yacht Club, the Ilanan Forest and other natural parks, Ocean Adventure, the Botanical Garden, and several of Subic's safari and forest farms. Also to be staged are 21k, 10k, 5k, and 3k races. The champion in the 21k event will get P20,000, and the chamnpioin in the 10k run will get P10,000. Several fun activities have been scheduled by organizers leading to the big event, according to Tucay. "Madami na tayong activities a day before the event such as entertainment, bazaars, street parties and fireworks," Tucay added in the weekly forum sponsored by Shakey's and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR). - GMANews.TV